Gas separator



y i958 G. l... FOREMAN Q Q GAS SEPARATOR Filed April 25, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Gearge L. Fare/wan M 3% 150 G. L. FOREMAN GAS SEPARATOR Filed April 23, 1948 Inventor eprge L. Foreman Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to purifying smoke and removing solid matter entrained therein and a primary object of the invention is to saturate a gas such as smoke with fluid until solid particles therein will become heavy enough to separate from the carrying agent to fall by gravity, for subsequent reclaiming or disposal.

Another object of the invention is to cause the gas or smoke to enter a separating device tangentially and to continue in a spiral path of travel to increase the length of contact time for the gas with a solid removing vapor until the maximum amount of solids have been separated therefrom and the gas is removed free of solid impurities.

And another object of the invention is to provide a dense fog of liquid that will envelop and cool entrained solid particles in a gas until such saturation as will overcome the buoyancy there'- of with a subsequent separation, the heavier solids falling due to the action of gravity and the lighter gas escaping from the combining space.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a continuous process for the separation of solids in gases.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separating chamber with means to induce a spiral travel for contaminated materials to separate solids from the carrying means.

And a further object of the invention is to provide a separator that is readily assembled and dismantled when necessary for purposes of cleaning or storage or the like.

And still a further object of the invention is to provide a gas washer capable of handling a maximum volume of gas for a given weight of column and with a relatively high efliciency, and a structure that is simple but durable in construction and economical in manufacture.

In addition to the above, the invention comprehends improvements in details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the following drawings, in which similar and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gas separating device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the devic of Figure 1:

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view and is taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view and is taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view and is taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the figures, the gas separator of the invention is indicated generally by numeral Ill and includes an outer chamber or cylinder I2, and an inner cylinder or chamber l4. Outer chamber I2 is entirely enclosed except for an inlet conduit 16 entering tangentially, as is clearly seen in Figure 2, at the upper surface thereof. Gas outlet means are provided on the top integral cover I8 through which inner cylinder l4 extends and is suitably secured thereto by means of an annular flange or plate 20 and bolted thereto by suitable bolt means 22. Cylinder l2 includes a convex bottom 24 secured to the side thereof by retaining bolts 2'6. An outlet 28 for removed solids and liquids is provided axially of chamber E2 in bottom 24. While bottom 24 has been shown as convexly constructed, it is to be understood that any suitable type of removal means may be provided, such as a frusto-conical outlet.

Inner chamber [4 is of hollow construction and is open at both ends, for a purpose soon to become apparent. A spiral baffle 30 is mounted within the space between the annular area defined by cylinders I2 and I4 and terminates at the upper end thereof adjacent the point of entry of tangential conduit is and extends in spiral design to a point adjacent the bottom of cylinder 12. Thus, it is readily apparent that smoke or other gases containing entrained particles to be separated therefrom will be forced under pressure, by suitable means not shown, into conduit I 6 to enter chamber l2 in a circular path of travel. The gases will continue in a spiral, downward path through the length of the chamber guided by spiral means 30 while entrained solids are separated therefrom, in a manner presently to become apparent. Inner cylinder [4 includes asimilar spiral bafiie 32 secured to a fluid carrying pipe 34. Spiral 32 terminates in lateral flange members 35 containing depending ears 36 and are adapted to seat in the U-shaped retaining clip 38 at the base of cylinder I4. It is to be noted here that inner chamber I4 is suspended a short distance above bottom 24 of cylinder l2 to enable a sharp separation between entrained solids and gases to take place.

A plurality of saturating pipes 40, of which four in number are employed, extend in parallel relation with the outer periphery of cylinder l2 and are bent over the cover 18 and are joined from the gases.

members 52 on the upper outer surface thereoffor dismantling when it is desirable to remove pipes Ai and inner pipe 34 and spiral bat-fie 32 for purposes of cleaning or storage. Pipes lli and spray pipes 34 enter cylinders i2 and M through suitable bearings M on the outer peripheries of chambers l2 and I4.

In operation, smoke or other gases saturated z :with'entrained solids are forced into chamber [2 through conduit :6, and impinge on the inner walls thereof. The downward travel thereof spiral baflie 39 cause the gases to be assured a maximum time of contact with fog spray emitted through nozzles Q6. Since nozzles 45 enter at four points within chamber l2, complete saturation of the solids entrained in the gases is assured, and as a result, when these solids have reached the lowermost point of travel in the outer chamber, they will have completely separated from the carrying medium to drop into bottom 26 for removal with condensed water through outlet 28. The gases, now purified, will reverse their path of travel and move upwardly through inner chamber M in a, spiral path induced by bafflle 32. Spray nozzles 50 are mounted in the lower portion of chamber l 4 to separate out any final solid particles that may have been carried along by Any moisture carried by the the escaping gases. escaping gases is now condensed on the upper portion of chamber It for return to the bottom of cylinder l2. Spiral separating means 32 and 34 are of particular help in effecting such separation since they are constantly wet from the fog-like spray emitted through nozzles 46, and as a result, all solids that come in contact with the spiral bafiles adhere thereto and are separated The shape of nozzles A5 does not interfere with the travel of the gases, but actually assists such rotary movement. While there is a slight clearance between inner spiral 32 and 'the inner surface of chamber l i, the fog-like spray emitted through nozzle 50 effectively seals the opening and prevents smoke or gas from escaping. For best performance, the area of the "spiral bafiies is about twice the area of the intake means. 7

Any suitable material may be employed in the construction of the gas separator. As many modifications of the embodiment above illustrated might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and it is intended that the above description and accompanying drawings and claims shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new isi '1. A gas separator consisting of an outer chamber, an inner chamber secured axially in said said LJ-clips, nozzles transversely disposed in the travel path of the gas and associated with said fluid supply means and said conduit and means to remove separated gas and solids.

' 2. A gas separator comprising an outer chamber, an inner chamber secured axially in said outer chamber and extending through one end thereof and terminating adjacent the other end thereof, gas inlet means carried by said outer chamber, concentric spiral baiiies mounted in said inner and outer chambers, a plurality of fluid supply pipes disposed vertically about said outer chamber and having their upper ends inturned and commonly joined, a conduit associated with said pipes and disposed axially in said inner chamber, said conduit having its upper end secured at the common juncture of the pipes, spray nozzles laterally carried by said supply pipes and disposed radially into said outer chamber, spray nozzles carried laterally by the lower end of the conduit and meansto remove separated gas and solids.

3. A gas separator comprising an outer chamber, an inner chamber mounted axially in said outer chamber and extending through one end thereof, said inner chamber terminating adjacent the other end of the chamber, gas inlet means associated with said outer chamber, concentric spiral baffles mounted in said inner and outer chambers, fluid supply pipes vertically disposed and circumferentially spaced about the outer chamber and having lateral spray nozzles extending radially into the outer chamber, said vertically disposed conduit disposed axially in said inner chamber and connected at its upper end to the converging supply pipes, lateral nozzles carried by the lower end of the conduit and means for removing separated gas and solids.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said inner spiral baflie is removably mounted in the inner chamber, said chamber having an annular GEORGE L. FOREMAN.

CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 844,312 Backman Feb. 19, 1907 1,264,263 Brassert Apr. 30, 1918 1,395A63 Wight Nov.=1, 1921 2354-,6'74

Fisher Aug. 1, 1944 

